Brooder heater



1932- J. T. LANDGRAF ET AL 1,875,032

BROODER HEATER Filed Dec. 9. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 30, 1932. J. T. LANDGRAF ET AL BROODER HEATER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 9, 1929 Patented Aug. 30, 1932 UNITED 1 STATES PATENT OFFICE .mcoia'r. Lumen AND aoY e. MILLER, or nocxroan, ILLINOIS, nssIeivons ':10 J. w. MILLER (10., or aocxroan, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or ILL NoIs BROODER HEATER Application filed December 9, 1929. Serial No. 412,586.

Our invention relates to heaters of the kind adapted to be employed in brooders or the like, wherein an oil heater of the type arranged to have the flame thereof regulated b 5 regulating the height of oil around the wic is desirable.

. These heaters have, in the past, consisted essentially of a supply container adapted to hold the main supply of oil and a burner and means for conducting the oil from the supply container to the burner. A reservoir or the like is maintained at the bottom of the burner, and'the wick is permitted to dip into the oil in this reservoir, the height of the flame dependin upon the height of the oil upon the wick. he most common way of regulating the height of oil on the wick has been to raise and lower either the burner or the supply container, thereby altering the oil level. Vari- 20 ous attempts have been made to do this automatically, a thermostat or similar device being provided to mechanicall raise or lower one-of these two members. T that in order to make this device practical for brooders and the like the equipment employed must be relatively cheap and easy to manufacture. In most cases it has consisted merely of a series of levers operated by wafers which expand when the temperature increases so and contract when the temperature decreases. However, since this wafer must lift either the burner or-a tank filled with oil, it operates against'a relatively large load and the sensitivity of the wafer is thereby reduced. In addition, the joints of the machine tend'to clog up under the use to which it is put and become hard to operate thereby further increasing the load upon t e wafers. Furthermore, when the burner is moved up and down, unless very well guided, it has a tendency to lift side wise and burn in a tilted position, thereby producing an uneven flame. On the other hand, if the burner is well ided, considerable friction is developed tween the ide and burner and the load on the wafers 1s again increased. These, among other things, have caused the burners of this type to be considered highly unsatisfactory.

In some instances, the oil container and humor have been maintained in fixed pos1- t will be seen" tions, the oil storage being held at a' point slightly above the burner, and a needle valve has been positioned at the outlet of the container, the needle valve being regulated by some suitable type of thermostat. In order, 5 however, to provide sufliciently delicate regulation, the orifice of the needle valve must be ve small, thereby being easily clogged. The tendency toward clogging is so serious in this field as to render this type of little 5 practical use. It has further been observed that in cold weather when the viscosity of the oil increases, it does not flow readily through a small orifice, and this tends to make the regulation of the burner uncertain.

Another serious objection to automatic machines of this character is the danger from fire due to the flooding of the burner. So far as I am aware, none of the machines of the prior art have provided means for positively preventing the flooding of the burner. Ane other serious objection to the machines of the prior art is the fact that should the weather become warm and'the automatic devices shut off the supply of oil so that the burner goes out, no means are provided for automatically relighting the burner should the weather again become cold and the oil supply be renewed. When this occurs with the burners now known, the oil merely flows into the burner and overflows the burner dissipating the oil which flows during this period.

We have, therefore, aimed to provide a burner whereinthe level of the oil supplied to the burner may be maintained within limits and varied automatically, to regulate the hei ht of flame in the burner.

Anotller object of our invention is to provide a thermostatically controlled brooder heater of greater accuracy and safety than those heretofore known. Y

We have a .further aimed to provide a brooder heater in which the oil container, the burner and the conduits are fixed in position and wherein automatic means are provided for maintaining a suitable'oil level in the burner.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a burner wick adapted to maintain a pilot flame when the automatic regulation and 'means for conducting the oil permits the oil level to drop below the operating level of the burner. v y We further aimed to provide means for preventing the burner from flooding if the' incorporatingv our improvements, the canopy and screen being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, longitudinal section through our improved brooder heater;

gig. 3 is asection on the line 33 of Fig. 2, an

Fig. 4 is a perspective of the wick employed in our improved brooder heater.

The heater consists in a general way of an oil storage tank, indicated generally by the numeral 5, an oil control chamber, indicated generally by 6, a burner, indicated generally. by 7, arranged to receive'oil fromthe oil control chamber 6 and provide a heatin flame,

Eetween these three members. A base, which may be of any suitable construction and desi but is here shown to be formed of sheet metal, is indicated by the numeral 8 and serves to support the assembled mechanism. Theoil supply chamber 6 is provided with means for automatically maintaining a' constant oil level therein and for automatically altering this level in order toprovide a uniform air temperature about the chamber as will presently appear more fully. I

Referrng now more particularly to the oil 'stora e tank 5, we have provided a cylindrical tank aving an open top arranged to receive a closure 9 havin a handle 10 to facilitate its use. In order t at substantially all of the oil in the container be available for use to the burner, we have arranged to elevate the tank as shown in Fig. 2. The side walls 11 of the tank are caused to extend downward to form a supporting base for the tank u on p the platform 8. The bottom 12 of the tan is positioned on the inner .side of the side walls 11 at a height equal to or greater than the maximum height of the oil in the base of the burner, so that substantially all of-the oil willflow therefrom by gravity. An oil supply pipe 13 is positioned in the bottom 12 of the tank 5 and caused to project slightly above the bottom, as indicated at 14, whereby any dirt or refuse which may have settled from the oil to the bottom of the container will be prevented from entering th pipe with the oil. The oil supply pipe 13 is provided I with a' threaded end 15 engageable with an gpening in the bottom of the oil control chamer 6. a

The burner 7 is sugported on the o osite end of the base 8 an is connected wit the oil control chamber 6 through a' horizontal pipe 16 and vertical pipes 17 and 18 connected thereto. The pipes 17 and 18 also serve to support the burner 7 upon the supply pipe 16. The supply pipe 16 is provided on its outer end with a cap 19 threaded thereon to permit its removal for the purpose of draining the system. A burner base 20, cylindrical in shape, and having a cylindrical wick 21 shown in detail in Fig. 4 and presently to be described,.is positioned on the upper end of the pipes 17 and 18 and has communication therewith to ermit oil to enter the base from the pipe. T e'burner base is formed of two concentric cylinders 22 and 23 closed'at the bottom exce t for the openings to receive the pipes 17 and 18 and open at the top, the upper edges of the cylinders being flared, as shown at 24 and 25 to receive the burner chimney, presently to be discussed.- The burner chimney consists of three concentric, metalliccylinders 26, 27 and 28 held in position by tie rods 29 and 30 passing diametricallyv therethrough. The two inner cylinders 27 and 28 form the burner plate and are highly perforated, their lower edges resting in the flared portions 24 and 25 of the burner base 20. These plates are adapted to be heated by the burning of the oil on the wick 21. The outer cylinder 26, which serves as a circulating drum for the heat generated by the flame, is

rovided at its lower end with a rim 31 proecting inward provided with perforations 32 through which air may enter to the burner. Upper flange 33 projecting diagonally inward serves to increase the velocity of the emerging heated air.

The burner wick 21, shown in detail in Fi 4, is of the usual conventional material an consists of asbestos web fabric having wire interwoven therewith to lend the structure rigidity and strength. It has been observed in the o eration of heaters of this character that caronization of the wick occurs near the base of the flame. In this manner, carbon and heavy tarry substances are deposited in the pores of the wick rendering it almost impervious to oil whereby the supply of oil to the flame is reduced and the operation of the burner impaired. We have foundthat if the burner wick is periodically inverted so that the gecently burned portion of the wick is inserted downward into the oils, the

wick will become softened and again per:

vious to the oil.

It will be observed that in order for the wick to burn, it is necessary that the level of the oil be within thebase 20 of theburner.

where the wick no longer has contact with 5 the flame, having gone out, will not be renewed unless special means are provided for this purpose. In order to prevent the flame on the wick from being completely extinguished,,we have provided a pilot wick, indicated generally by the numeral 34. Examination of Fig. 4 will show that this wick is pivoted at the center of the main wick 21, which permits the pilot wick to project outward on either 'end of the burner wick cylinder. The pilotwick 34 is adapted to extend downward through one of the pipes 17 or 18 into the horizontal supply pipe 16 whereby,

after the oil level drops below the base of the burner, a small quantity of oil will be prowick 34, which will be sufficient to maintain a small flame within the burner; The pilot wick 34 having a pivotal connection 35 with the main wick21, may be reversed from side to side when the wick 21 is inverted in the base of the burner 20.

I ,It should be observed that in burners of this character the intensity of the flame is regulated by the position of the oil along the surface of the wick. When the oil is high, the wick has an intense flame, and when the oil is low the wick has a weaker flame. Thus, the intensity of the flame and the amount of heat emitted by the burner 7 may be regulated by regulating the lever of the oil in the burn er base 20. In order to so regulate the oil level we havev provided the oil control chamber 6, to which the burner 7 and the oil supply tank 5 are attached bymeans of oil supply lines 16 and 13, respectively.

The oil control chamber 6 is positioned between the oil supply container 5 and the burner 7 in such a manner that the oil leaving the container 5 must first pass into the control chamber 6 and then through the supply pipe 16 to the burner 7. While this chamber may be made in innumerable shapes and sizes,

we have here shown it attached to the base 8 and having a chamber formed by circularside walls 37, a U-shaped projection 37a thereof forming a valve chamber 38. Reference to Fig. 2 will show an outlet needle valve 39 secured in the bottom of the valve chamber 38, having an orifice 40 vertically positioned therein. The bottom end 41 of the valve is threaded for engagement with a threaded opening 42 in the bottom of the valve chamber 38. The opening 42 connects with a passageway 43 cast in the bottom of the oil control chamber 6. The outerend of t e passageway 43 is threaded to receive the threaded end 44 of the oil pipe 16. A lateral hole 45 through thevalve 39,. intersecting the orifice 40, permits the oil to enter the orifice from vided to the wick 21 by means of the pilot he chamber 38, pass through the orifice intoburner. I

the passageway 43, and from there into the oil supply. pipe 16. A valve lever 46 is threaded near its lower end 47 into the valve 39 and is arranged to close the orifice 40 when turned .downward so that its lower end engages the valve seat 48. This valve serves merely as a small Outlet connectin theoil control chamber with the supply pipe 16 and is normally adapted to be either fully opened or fully closed, though clearly a-certain amount of regulation may be had at this point if desired.

An inlet valve 49, almost identical in shape and size with the outlet valve 39, is positioned in the bottom of the valve chamber, whereby its orifice 50 connects with a passageway 51 arran ed to receive oil from the supply pipe 13. e have found it advisable to have the orifice 50 somewhat smaller than the orifice 40 of the outlet valve whereby the amount of'oil entering the chamber ,at this point may be more closely regulated. It will be seen that, here too, we have provided a lateral hole 52 in the inlet valve corresponding ,to the lateral hole 45 in the outlet valve to permit oil to pass from the orifice 50 into the chamber 38. A valve stem 53' is slidably positioned in the valve 49 to move vertically upward in opening the valve and vertically downward against the seat 54 to close the valve. It will be seen that the bottom of the chamber 6 from the supply container- 5 through the orifice 50 and leave the control chamber 6 for the burner 7 through the orifice 40. The orifices, 40 and 50 are of such size as to permit a greater quantity of oil to flow therethrough than is consumed by the burner. ,As oil enters'the control chamber and begins to fill this, the orifice 40 being lar er than the orifice 50, the oil will quickly flow into the burner to approximately the same level, and as oil continues to flow, the level in the t wo will remain the same, gradually moving upward. We have provided means for automatically closing the orifice 50 when the level reaches a desired point and means for again openingthe orifice 50 to permit the entrance into the chamber 6 of an appropriate amount. of oil when the burner has consumed suflicient oil to materially ower the level. We have also provided means for raising or lowering this level, thereby raising or lowering the flame -1n the burner to maintain a constant tem rature in the region immediately surroun ing the 5 ered by the oil.

'1 pin 58 presently to be described. Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the float and position i p with theoi-l'a'ta desired level.

j inlet valve are shown in the closed Let us nowassume that the burner 7 has it; consumed 'sufiicient oil to lower the oil level I The float 55 will be lowered raising the valve stem-'53 and permitting oil to enter through the orifice '50. When the y a small amount.

oil level goes upthe float 55 will be raised,

5 lowering the valve stem 53 and closing the orifice 50 when the oil level reachesiits previous point. In this way the oil level is maintained at substantially a constant point. However, such an arrangement would permit only a constant flame in the burner 7. In

order to regulate the'height of the flame in the burner and consequently the heat emitted thereby, we have provided means for automatically raising orlowering the float support pin 58. The pin 58 is supportedfrom a bracket 59 lying crosswise of the float chamber 36 and secured to the side walls thereof by means of screws 60. A collar 61 projects upward from the center of the cross-piece 3'5 0'9 and serves as a sleeve for guiding the movement of the pin 58 which is permitted free slidingendwise movement in the collar 61. The upper end of the pin 58 is provided with an annular shoulder 62 against "'g dwhich a spring 63smay bear, the spring 63 acting between the shoulder 62 and the upper edge of the sleeve 61 to normally urge the pin 58 upward. It will be seen that the normal tendency of this spring is to hold the float at its highest point'and consequently main- 'tain the, oil level in thecontrol chamber fixed at its highest point. A U-shaped bracket 64 is positioned on the sleeve 61 by means of the screw 65. The other'end of the bracket I I mi; is provided with an advancing screw 66 having a knurled head 67, the'lower end of the screw being fixedly attached to a wafer thermostat indicated generally by the numeral .68. The wafer is positioned. between the 55 ends of the bracket, the lower side of the thermostat 68 is adapted to bear against the upper end of the pin 58, forward movement ofthe screw 66 urging the thermostat 68 downward and forclng the pin 58 downward against the pressure of the spring 63. An

overflow pipe 69 is positioned in the side walls 37 of the float chamber so that should the valve stem 53 be prevented from seating and the oil continue to flow'into the chamber it may be permitted to flow out through the overflow pipe 69, which will conduct it to a point ofsafety, thereby preventing the burner from overflowing and catching fire.

Referring to Fig. 1, it-will be seen that the burner,- among other things, is adapted'to be employed with a chicken brooder having a screenindicated generally by 70, for the purpose of preventing the chickens from coming in contact with the burner 7. A conical canopy 71 having supporting legs 72 is adapted to'be centrally positioned over the burner 7 The canopy projects outward sufliciently to cover the oil control chamber '6 and serves 'to enclose the heat from the burner 7 and reflect it downward against the ground. It will be seen that the thermostat 68 is positioned close up under the side of the canopy 74 wherein, it will be protected from mechanical injury by the chickens under the canopy. In addition it is so positioned as to be within the stream of downwardly moving warm air along the sides of the canopy 71 which tends to preventsudden, changes of temperature about the thermostat. The operation of the heater will be seen to be at once simple and convenient. In starting the heater the screw 66 is drawn upward until the thermostat 68 is out of contact with thepin 58 permitting it to assume its highest position. The valve 39 is then opened and oil is permitted to flow into the base 20 of the burner 7, saturating the wick 21. r The burner then lighted and will 'burn'at its maximum ntensity, at which point it is permitted to operate until the temperature of the air under the canopy 71 has reached the desired point.

When this has occurred the thermostat 68 is with the upper end of the pin 58. The thermostat 68 is now regulated by screwing it downward until the temperature of the air under the canopy 71 no longer increases or until this temperature becomes constant. This moving downward of the thermostat 68 forces the pin 58 downward and with it the float 55 thus lowering the level of the oil in the control chamber 6 and in the base 20 of the burner 7. When the point has been reached where the air under the canopy'remains ap proximately constant in temperature, 'manual regulation of the thermostat is stopped. It will be seen that small variation of temperature under the canopy 71 will be cared for by expansion and contraction of the thermostat 68, expansion of the thermostat causing the float 55 to be forced'downward, thus lowering .moved downward until it comes in contact the level of the oil. in the burner base 20 and decreasing the intensity of the flame. Contraction of the disc 68 causes the pin 58 to be raised, raising the level of the oil and in creasing the temperature of the flame.

tected and consequently have small tendency to jam.

While We have thus described and illustrated a specific embodiment of our invention, we are aware that numerous alterations and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention, and we do not wish to be limited except as required by the prior art and the scope of the appended claims, in which- We claim:

1. In combination, a burner, a fuel supply connected for gravity feed thereto, a fuel control chamber in the connection controlling the oil level in the burner, said chamber having an inlet and an outlet, a float valve structure controlling the chamber inlet, and heat responsive means connected to said float valve structure to vary the burner oil level to maintain the surrounding atmosphere at a constant temperature.

2. In combination, a burner, a fuel supply connected for gravity feed thereto, a fuel control chamber in the connection for controlling the oil level in the burner, said chamber having an inlet and an outlet, a float valve structure controlling the chamber inlet and heat responsive means connected to said float valve structure mounted on the exterior of said control chamber and connected to said float valve structure to vertically shift the ,same to vary the burner oil level to maintain the surrounding atmosphere at a constant temperature.

3. In combination, a burner, a fuel supply connected for gravity feed thereto, a fuel control chamber in the connection for controlling the oil level in the burner, said chamber having an inlet and an outlet, a vertically movable needle valve controlling the chamber inlet, a float having a horizontally disposed arm pivotally connected to said needle valve, and heat responsive means for supporting said arm to vary the vertical position thereof, to determine the burner oil level and maintain the surrounding atmosphere at a constant temperature.

4. In combination, a burner, a fuel supply connected for gravity feed thereto, a fuel control chamber in the connection for controlling the oil level in the burner, said chamber having an inlet and an outlet,averticallymovable needle for controlling the chamber inlet, a float having an arm pivotally secured to said needle, a vertically movable member operatively connected to said arm to support the same, and heat responsive means for raising and lowering said last mentioned member to vary the burner oil level and maintain the surrounding atmosphere, at a constant temperature.

-5. In combination, a burner, a fuel supply connected for gravity feed thereto, a fuel control chamber in the connection for controlling the oil level in the burner, said chamber having an inlet and an outlet, a vertically movable needle for controlling the chamber inlet, a float having an arm pivotally secured to said needle, a vertically movable rod operatively connected to said arm to support said float, a wafer thermostat fixedly positioned above said rod, spring means for maintaining the end of said rod against said thermostat whereby expansion or contraction of said thermostat moves said rod vertically to vary the burner oil level and main tain the surrounding atmosphere at a constant temperature.

6. In combination, a burner, a fuel supply connected for gravity feed thereto, a fuel control chamber in the connection for controlling the oil level in the burner, said chamber having an inlet and an outlet, a vertically movable needle for controlling the chamber inlet, a float having an arm pivotally secured to said needle, a vertically movable rod operatively connected to said arm to support said float, a wafer thermostat fixedly positioned above said rod, spring means for maintaining the end of said rod against said thermostat signatures.

JACOB T. LANDGRAF. ROY G. MILLER. 

